National Dance Day Is (Almost) Upon Us

It’s National Dance Day time! The annual event, launched in 2010 by Mr. Nigel Lythgoe and his Dizzy Feet Foundation, will be held on Saturday, July 26 this year.

Dancers getting their groove on in L.A. at NDD 2012 (photo Valerie Macon/Getty Images North America)

As always, there are plenty of ways for you to get in on the celebrating. If you’re based in or around L.A., NYC or Washington, D.C., you’re in particular luck: There’ll be large-scale events in each of those three locations. The flagship L.A. celebration, held in Grand Park, will run from 10 am to 3 pm and include classes in all kinds of styles, from hip hop to salsa to afro-cuban dance. In NYC, you’ll be able to rock out with fellow dancers at Lincoln Center plaza beginning at 4 pm. In D.C., there’ll be a series of performances and demonstrations at The Kennedy Center starting at 4 pm, celebrating the 24th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act—and led by AXIS Dance Company, which is renowned for its physically integrated dance.

If you’re not near one of those metropolises (metropolii?), though, no worries! There are all kinds of other dance events happening across the country. Click here for the full list.

And no matter where you are, you can always participate in NDD by learning one of the official routines and posting your video to the Dizzy Feet Facebook page. We’ve included the instructional videos for this year’s routines below. (The advanced number features choreography by Chris Scott to Mark Ballas’ hot new single “Get My Name“—not too shabby.)

Have fun celebrating, everyone!

Beginner routine

Beginner routine (seated)

Advanced routine